Monday, March 9, 2015

At the beginning of this year, I decided I was going to commit to quite a few things when it came to me. My personal daily walk with Christ, my house, my mommy life, and my wife life. I want to provide for my family a home that is peaceful, not consistently messy or dirty, a home where we don't yell at each other and a home of peace, that my husband will enjoy coming home too.

So personal time with Jesus, became more deliberate and creative with #documentedfaith verse focusing, #ifequip daily devotionals, and #shereadstruth devotionals. I also want to dive in to a few books, we will see where that goes. If you want to connect with me through #documentedfaith you can follow me on instagram @jessncommunity

For my house:

I decided to buy a book back in November titled "31 Days to Clean"( See picture)

It took me till February to really crack this book open.

The author was doing a challenge and I knew I needed that kick in the butt.

It has felt like a long 31 days! Let's be honest, cleaning and organizing are not my forte...at all!

But, with the help of this book and my new friend the "Fly Lady"(if you don't know her, you need to!!)

My house is seeing progress!! I am seeing areas that normally build up and get in to piles that seem like mountains, not become mountains. I have a reference point for the last time I wiped down the front and inside of my cupboards, my closets are getting a regular cleaning and most importantly, I am less stressed and more relaxed in a positive way about my home.

I DEFINITELY NEEDED THAT KICK IN THE BUTT !

I wanted to do a bit of a summary of things I have learned so far with 31 Days to Clean.

I have learned that I want my house to be a refuge, a resting place, a place to come, sit and be. I have also learned it can't be that way unless I clean it, so I can properly rest.

I have been able to keep a schedule for the most part that does not make me feel suffocated.

I have learned and understood a real process of "His grace is enough for me" in my home keeping skills, not as an excuse to do nothing, or the least amount, but to do the most that I can and not beat myself up for it when I don't finish my list.

I have taken the time to focus on what I want my priorities to be, and how to walk through what I want to do about these priorities and verses to encourage me.

I have learned that this is something that I need to stay consistent in, continue to prod myself and keep on track with. That it is good to journal and keep these entries so that I can go back and remind myself.

It may have been a long 31 days so far, I am so grateful for the ways in which my house has seen rejuvenation, and I am feeling more on top of the day to day. And God is in the midst of all that!

Monday, February 2, 2015

There are 234 references to the word remember in the ESV translation of the bible.

There are 25 references to the word remembrance in the ESV.

,

Definition of remembrance:

The action of remembering something

Definition of remember:

have in or be able to bring into one's mind an awareness of something or someone that one has seen, known or experienced in the past.

Definition of memorial:

serving to preserve remembrance of or relating to a memory

I have been reading in Joshua through the if:equip study. This is a great way to be involved and seeking after God, together through the scriptures. I have been continually struck by how often God encouraged them to remember, gave them commands to build memorials to remember in years going forward.

TO NOT FORGET.

Do you struggle with forgetfulness of what God has done for you? Do you forget in the hard times, how God was there before you, how he was there the last time with you? Do you struggle with Soul Amnesia? When things are going well, when the sun seems to shine and you know you are on the mountain?

Sometimes, I wish I had reminder, a piles of rocks from the Jordan River, an altar to see from afar, a reminder of where God has taken me, a reminder of where I have been.

I have been constantly hearing a song over and over in my head, from Bethel Music( Author: Jeremy Riddle). A longing from my heart .

Fall afresh

Awaken my soul, come awake

To hunger to seek to thirst

Awaken first love, come awake

and do as you did at first

Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me,

come wake me from my sleep

Blow through the caverns of my soul

pour in me to overflow

to overflow

Awaken my soul, come awake

to worship with all your strength

Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me,
come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow
to overflow

Come and fill this place
Let your glory now invade
Spirit come and fill this place
Let your Glory now invade

That we would awake, that our hearts would be as they were at first. That we would be filled afresh, that our souls would no longer know amnesia.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

.Good Monday Afternoon!
I am writing this with a big mug of coffee and a few "Bottle Caps" candies (childhood favorite)

Everyone has a Monday in need of a sugar pick me up!

It is a cloudy Monday over here in prairie country, in fact it has been a cloudy weekend. But clouds don't limit us, or what God wants for our time. I had the wonderful pleasure of leading 15 ladies from our church on a Ladies retreat this past weekend.

The purpose was OUR STORIES. We wanted to hear each other's stories. The heart was to join in community together.

As I worked to prepare, I was so anxious and unsure, I was tense and felt like I was holding on the reigns of a runaway stallion, grasping for control.

Last week you saw me sitting in Starbucks, notebook out, coffee, colors all over the table. I think back on that day and I remember God showing me, grasping that stallion's reigns and having a hard time staying on the horse.

But God told me, If I hang on so tightly, how is that TRUSTING Him?

Real Trust looks more like this...

(maybe not Cinderella) but without restraints, Real trust is me saying....I won't attempt to control you God. You take me where you want me to go.

And what a ride He took me and all of us women on! We can all say, Our God is Faithful!!

So that said, #31daystoclean took a little break and it has be hard slogging getting back in the saddle. As you can tell you are reading this after it was posted on Tuesday night, not Monday afternoon.

As my kids Curious George storybook says " Even great explorers bump and crash sometimes."

But, here is my chance to land. The last few days we worked on the pantry and started into the bathrooms. Those can be SCARY places. But luckily a week ago, I was in to my cupboard and cleaning out spilled body wash with paint scrapers, so that I just need to do a weekly cleaning of counters, toilets and sinks. Good thing too, because tomorrow morning, is Ladie's coffee at my house!!!

But on the 'mary' side of things, I am really enjoying how this book addresses the heart issues and the ways in which we can grow in community.

So in being that I am slightly behind, tomorrow I am working on my Priorites list, organizing my large pots cabinet, catching up on some reading, and working on...

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Ok, we are on day 3, but the last two have been hard ones for me. I was not home all day today. So, I loaded the dishwasher! I am keeping it real!! The day before was a hard, no energy day for me, I managed to keep my kitchen clean, make a few meals for the freezer and that's all folks.

Two weeks ago, I was above my cupboards and had to vacuum them the dust was so bad! That was a sight to see!!! Here I am standing on the ledge of my counter to reach with the vacuum plugged into a counter plug and my two part vacuum in hand. The canister in one hand and the small hose in the other!! Oh the things we have to do, in order to clean cupboard tops that haven't been touched since I moved in two and a bit years ago!!! LOL

I loved this quote from Day 2... A good reminder and encouragement:

“Life-giving is about receiving from God in order to give to others.” Barbara Mouser, Five Aspects of Woman

“Who is woman? She is the redeemed Life-giver, enlivened by the love of Christ and continuously renewed by Him as she nurtures others.” Barbara Mouser, Five Aspects of Woman

In all this, I am seeing room for improvement and seeing room for growth, and room for more of God!

Yesterday and Today I am learning to trust God. He has been speaking to me about areas in which I have struggled in this. It is almost easy to trust God for other people's healing ( even over a period of time) then it is to trust for your own healing. Today I had the pleasure of taking time, just me and God and Starbucks to have personal time. It was amazing, but only after the surrender. With out the surrender it was hard slogging! The pic below, is what I was working on today!

If you need a good study to follow, I highly recommend the ladies over at if:equip.com. IF you allow God, you will SEE BREAKTHROUGH.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

It has been rather quiet over on this blog lately, but I find many things percolating...
My mind has been busy with the things of the new year and so today is a catch up day, a look at all the things that have been zipping around my heart and soul and challenging me in all the ways of God.

First:
I have been inspired, challenged and stirred in the areas of creativity.
A wonderful friend of mine started an Journalling Bible last fall and her instagram's are so encouraging. I have a very creative mind, but struggle oh so much in drawing it out. If Journalling Bibles interest you please check out Coralee's blog by clicking here.

Beautiful isn't it! I have been so inspired by her. Just before Christmas, my husband and were out with some friends. We were talking about devotional life and I started saying how my current journal, has been driving me crazy. I started to talk about what I preferred. Well, my hubby was listening so intently and purchased for me as a gift on Christmas morning a new heavy paper, coiled and beautiful journal. He also included a new set of Sharpie pens (he was careful to note that they do not bleed through). I was really excited, but as I continued to look at these large papers, I got discouraged.

In comes my good friend Coralee again. She not only inspired me through illustrated faith, but now also through documented faith. This is a group of people who have been joined together through art, a love of the word of God and the heart to journal. Coralee directed through her blog to a women named Stephanie Akerman. This woman has started Documented Faith. This I thought, this I could do. I think I can start here and then maybe after I am more comfortable move into a Journalling Bible.

So here goes, I am going to show you the first few pages of my Documented Faith Journal. I am continually stretched, continually pushed and continually meeting God in a new and expressive way this year.

I have had this book on my IPad for a few months, having bought in November. This book is one to help all the "Mary's" out there clean their homes and still have time to sit at the feet of Christ. Sarah Mae, wrote this amazing book. I am looking forward to starting it this month. Tomorrow (Tuesday January 20th) there is a group of women, reading the book and working through the challenges together. I NEED THIS! If you would like to join us, pick up your copy on Amazon for $1.19CDN for the next 6 days! Then the cost goes up to $4.99CDN . (Click on the link "31 Days To Clean") Visit Sarah Mae on her blog, as she and other women walk this through together.

A daily, free online biblestudy, that gave me so much life last year. I am going to thoroughly enjoy the time spent in the word. For the next 3 weeks we are studying Joshua. Join us!

I pray for all of you who read this blog, that you will encounter God in a new and inspiring way. That we will journey together in to a deeper intimacy, knowledge and communion with our heavenly father.

Tonight as I wrap my hands around a cup of warm, spicy tea, and listen to a new album by a very talented friend, I can't help but linger...

Karla Adolphe is a very talented musician and a good friend. Her songs have a hauntily beautiful sound to them. They make you think of a light fluffy snowfall, and a walk in mild winter temperatures. They encourage you to fold into a blanket, warm drink of choice in hand and reflect on what this season's meaning truly is.

I love how when she sings "We three Kings" you are drawn in and it is personal, this is not an overly common Christmas song, but I become expectant and long to see the Star.

In the song " Do you hear, what I hear?" She encourages you so that you wish you could have heard and seen, she invites you to the precious serenity of the stable home of Jesus Christ.

There are three more songs on the album, one being an original. I can see this album playing over and over in my home this season as I linger with my Father.

Karla describes the songs as "The songs express themes of pilgrimage, longing, hope, revelation, visitation and prophecy. I hope in them you find rest, linger with me and thank you for joining me on this journey." ( as quoted from her blog)

Advent means COMING

I invite you to come, linger here with me, pick up a cozy blanket, warm cup of choice, come sit at the feet of our God, meet Him as we have been beckoned to. Let this season be about HIM, his love, his sacrifice, and the greatest gift.(More on that inspiration from a favourite blogger and encourager Ann Voskamp tomorrow.)